Computing machine



Fb- 23, 1937 R. H. sTRoTHER 2,071,536

COMPUTING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1927 2 Shee`ts-Sheet 1 AMOUNT DEPLA DEPLB l DEPIC I I ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1937.

R. H. STROTHER COMPUTING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY andv it has for lits principal object to proved clearance proofmechanism for such maof which will fticularly pointed out ,in the claims.

Patented Feb. 23, 1931 I UNITED` STATES PATENT oFFl-cF. *A comrujlgsmcnrm v I Boeemrothel-{Montclain N. J., assignor to writer Company, Ilion, a corporation of New York Application .my 2s, 1921,'serial`No 209,008

[ owns. `(C1. 2354-50) My yinvention relates to computingmachines provide' imchnes. To the above and other ends my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all be fully setI forth My invention is here shown applied to a Remington combined typewriting and computing I` machine of the sort described in the patent tb Wahl No. 1,270,471 dated June 25, 1918, and whichfmachine has for a number oi years been marketed extensively.. Except as hereinafter described, the machine is or may constructed substantiallyl as shown in the Wahl patent but the invention may also be embodied in machines that differ considerably from that patent.

will automatically f anism will remain In the present instance clearance proof mechanism, not shown in the Wahl patent, is applied to the cross totalizer, machine '1s a jumping totalizer. This totalizer or register as it has been manufactured for some time contains a feeler device including a nnwhich finger clear and.'A a I is, not clear. I .providemeans whereby on the jump-back of the cross totalizer this finger controls two diferent signals. If before writing and computing the last number the totalizer had not been Aclear but the writing of said last number cleared thetotalizer and therefore causedv the said finger to be moved to rear position, then on the jump-back of the totalizer the machine beA caused to print` a star. Nothing further .will happenin the clear signal mechanism until at some reciprocation of the .cross'trucka number is registered in the cross totalizer. The registration `of cause said finger, Ato move to its not clear position and on the following jump-back of the cross truck the finger will operatemechanism which will cause a square after the number.

to be automatically printed The clearance proof mechinactive even though several numbers' may bey added into the cross totalizer, and until at someI operation of the machine said totali'zer is cleared. On the succeeding automatically printed immediately following the number that cleared the totalizer. star is automatically printed after every total the writing of which clears the ,totalizen and a herein and parwhich .in the Remington' totalizer is 1, this casting ya fragment of whichfhas a pin Stal' Will be' In short', a

side of ,the machine.

Fig. 3 is a-perspectiveview showing parts the clearance proof mechanism on a larger scale.

The Remington machine, as manufactured at.

present, comprises a #12 Remington typewriter having abase 5, corner posts 5, top plate 1,and

la platen! m'ountedfon a carriage III which runs onstationary rails Il. The printing keys I2 are on key levers I3, Fig. 1, and are connected with belllcranks I4 which operate type bars I6. The two end type bars I6 and I1, shown in Fig. not connected with key levers but areoperated automatically to .prlnt the clearancel signals as will hereinafter be described. -Y l f T he main frame of the computing mechanism comprises a 'casting I8, secured to the top plate being its 'right-hand end being shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The main truck 2li is mounted and guided in the usual manner, being connected with the carriage I0 by means of arms Il. This truck supports any suitable number of vertical to,-

talizers, four `being shown in the present instance.` 4-These totaliaers.

shownin .section in Fig. .2

master wheel and dropped by th'e usual pick-upv beam 32 which is picked up by each of the vertical totalizers and stationary. piece 35, all as usual in this machine. The slot Il has the usual off-set which disengages the hook or pick-up beam from the vertical to' talizer allowing the crosstruck to be Ilumped back by the usual spring- (not shown). The vertical total'izer in any desired column usual subtraction cam which acts on a follower may have the/ il; running in a guide slot 3 4 in a which `will rock the finger tc the casting a special vwhose right-hand end f Vforated for the purpose will be pointed lposition shown in Fig. 2.

My improvements consist chiefly in the mechanism controlled by the nger d'i. rliois nger during the reciprocations `of the cross truck 25 of mechanism or sort of signal.

The extreme right-hand end of the casting 'I8- has a regular frame plate 50 secure thereto by two screws 5|. 'I'hese two screws are utilized to secure sheet metal frame platel or bracket 52, the main body of whichlies lbehind and parallel with the casting bar I8 but is bent forward and perend of the plate 52. may shown at 53 to contact' screws. 'I'he left-hand be bent forward also' as With the rear the piece 52.

In the space between the casting I8 and the plate 52 there are mounted on face of 'the casting I8v to steady e aos/1,586

rightward from its edge shaped into such positionprevents end- The rightpivot pin 60, he bell cranks.

ivot till and having its lower cam (ifi. The cam @E is in by the upper end is in itsv rearward said nger running under the cam It will be perceived that the linkage is such that the elevation of the the nger 4l will be moved to its forward position, and when the the arm 6i. Once the linkage 1s moved to this position, with the arm 63 up and the arm 63 It will be perceived that down,

in sub-units position ixnmediately followingjjtl'e lnumbers to which. they relate.

The printing of these signs can be effected by various forms of in echanism. In the instance i "illustrated in the drawing the lever '83.

continuous rotation to the .screws 10 to the base v The casting 68 includes a bracket 1I over-hanging I have placed a star type on the eittreme right-hand one I6 of the type bars, and a'type to print a square on the next type bar, and have connected these type bars to be operated by power mechanism. This power mechanism can be of a variety of sorts. The drawings,

less conventionally, the power printing' mechanism. described in the patent to Dorsey No,y

1,602,756 dated October\12, 1926; but with some slight modication which will be described. .The Dorsey patent shows a long power drum extending across the base\oi the typewriter. In the present instance the type bars are key-operated,

lexcept the two under consideration. I haveA shown only a short drum 65 mounted on the inner end. of a short power shaft 66 which in its other end carries a pulley 61 that may be connected with any suitable motor so as to give a w drum 65. The shaft 86 is shown journaled in a casting .68 secured by of the typewriter frame.

l slotted and otherwise formed to accommodate, the Dorsey mechanism. .This includesv a forward bell crank 12, pivoted in the bracket 1I at 18, and a rear bell crank 14 pivoted at 15. Each of these bellcranks is connected by a link 16 with a bell crank this mechanism corresponds exactly to that associated with the forward one of Dorseys two bell cranks, thefront end ofI the lever 83 taking the place oi Dorseys key lever. The rear bellcrank 14 has an eccentric contact piece or cam 85 pivoted thereto at 86 and controlled by a spring 81.

This contact piece 1s. brought into' actionA by a push link 88, pivoted at 80 to the rear'arm of This mechanism is intended .to be the same as that associated with Dorseys rear bell crank, except that the eccentric or cam 85 is started into action by the dogmi stroke of the link 88 instead of by an up stro e, and the shoulder on the ypiece 85vvhich this link engages therefore faces up instead of down. The links 8l and 88 are controlled by springs 8|, and said links are also suitably guidedby pins the same way as in the Dorsey patent. The whole construction is such that if, with the parts .in the positions shown in-Flg. 2, the lever 83.be rocked downward at its forward end, the link 8i will give an initial motion tothe eccentric cam 18, enough to bring it into contact with the rotating drum 65. This drum willcontinue the rotation of the cam 18 and on account of the eccentricity of said earn will'impart' an enforced rock- 12 fwhicn will bar l1 which prints a square. Thel sarlne rocking motion of the lever 83 will elevate the linky 88 and caus'e-it to'engage the shoulder of the piece,85. Nothing further will happen with this mechanism until the lever isl which will complete the motion and operate trovassev the type bar I6 to print a star. At the time wl'ien Figs. l and 2, illustrate, moreorl,

leftward. from the pivot I4 of the typewriter resembling generally those used in the ordinary.

- just'the arms 6l and of the parts, altho link u Wm. impart a Pre' I drawings, the arms the lever 83 completes its rocking motion as just described the link 88 rubs against thepin 82 and is moved out of engagement with the part 85 so that as soon as said part completes its motion and the arm 14 of the bell crank is swung rearwardly the part normal position by the spring 81.' A similar thing, of course, happens at the endfof the operation of the eccentric 1%. t

The third bell crank on`the bracket 52, namely,

the one whose upstanding arm is\numbered 56,

has lits horizontal arm to the -rear of said plate 52, the bail part ofthe bell crank extending underY horizontai arm 82 extending pin 68. This leftward extending arm is connected by link 83 with. the lever 83 as shown in Figs. l and 2. The construction is such that whenever the cross totalizer 38 is cleared the succeeding jump-back of the cross truck causes the nger 41 to raise arm 6 which swings the link 51 rightwardand moves the arm 5,6 and link 83 upward, swings lever 83 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and causes the power drum toiprint the star.- All of this mechanism will remain quiescent until at some jump back of the cross truck the finger 41 engages the arm 63 and elevates said arm' which will move link 51 leftward and arms 56a and 83 downward, causing the drumA 65 to actuate the type bar l1 to print a square.

In view of 't e fact that the stopbar 38 of the cross truck, is in practice adjusted to different ylengths appropriate to the width of the particular totalizer to be used on the said cross truck, it seems desirable, although not necessary', to ad- 83 in harmony with the adjustment oi the truck 26; and provision for the plateand its such an adjustment is shown in thedrawings.-

late 52 but are mounted on an auxiliary plate.

4 secured to the front face of the plate 52 by 85 will be snapped back to itsl means of a, milled head screw 85 screwed into the back of the plate 84 and passing through an elonf' gated slot 86 i'n thei plate 52. A bar 81 may be secured to plate 52 and provided with notches 88, and said plate 84 may have one or more tact mechanism as a whole including the linkage teeth yflllll adapted'to engage in said notches. The con- .struction is such that the plate 84 and the con- 54 55, 51 may be adjusted right` and left o'n lthe g plate 52. In order to en ble this to be done thc left-hand end of the lin: 51 may havein it a succession of holes lill for the pivot pin 58 of the lever arm 56, said holes spaced the same as the notches 88. A K

In Fig. 1 the cross far back tothe right" as the mit it to go and the master wheel 3l is shown one space to the left of the left-hand wheel o1 the totalizer, and

truck isv shown :lumped as h not necessary. If now the cross truck be picked up and a number be added in one of thehigher wheels of this totalizer the comb 42 will be forced to its rear position. This would rock the ilnger 41 'to its forward position. Said finger 41 is, however, behind the Afree end of,` the lever arm .68 and cannot move to its forward position at this time. This situation may be provided for in various ways. As shown in the 45 and 41 are made of separate piecesboth pivoted at 46 but capable of independentrocking. These nected by a tension spring |02 and the arm 41 stop bar 38 will per- 1 this is a desirable adjustment linger lll is, however,

has a lug ma overlying the arm a5 and limiting the relative motion of the two arms -in one direction. In case the rst number to be added on the as the "3 is written and the nger dl would tend to move to its rear position. At this time, however, it would be in front of the arm @l and could not so move, The rearward motion of this not positive but is produced only by the spring 4S. No harm would be ,done therefore because the nger -flll would merely rub against the iront face two letter space steps of the `carriage leftward, whereupon said Jnger arrn Gl land could snap to its rear position ready `to operate said arm on the jump-back of the carmage.

@ne of the advantages of my invention resides in the fact that-it is applicable to a great variety ol different kinds of work. l the machine is set up for a distribution job, having four columns dened by the four izers. The total amount of a bill iswritten in column 2t. 'llotalizer 2l is not provided with a subtract cani. 30 and this amount will therefore beA added in the cross totalizer 30. lf the work has been correctly done the cross totalizer will have been cleared before this number is written. In other words, in the initiation of the work the parts will stand in the position shown in Fig. l. As soon as the amount is written in column 2l it will be added in the cross totalizer, the nger dll will be moved to its forward position, and on the jump-back of the cross footer the mechanism will be actuated so that the square llll will be automatically printed after the amount. In the first line of the paper illustrated in Fig. l., this amount was $51.25, of which $26.00 was chargeable to department A. This amount written in colurnn d2 is subtracted but does not clear the cross totalizer. The balance oi this amount, namely, $25.25being chargeable to department B is written in column 223 and subtracted from the cross totalizer. If this work is done correctly it will clear the totalizer and cause a star to be printed automatically in sub-units position in 'When the carriage is drawn back to write the second amount $73.00 in column 2 l, the writing ofthis amount changes the cross totalizer from clear to not clear, and will consequently result in the automatic printing of the square lill in sub-units position. This amount is distributed in all three succeeding columns, kthe cross totalizer not being cleared until the $13.00 in column lll is written. Since the writing of units position of that column. ,When the third n i the appearance of vertical totalcopied in column 22, clearing the cross totalizer and printing the star in the sub-units position of that column.

Another common proof that the cross totalizei' was clear before that number was written, and a star following any number numbers are written so puting columns with the computing mechanism in operation. Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement Without departing from the invention.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

l. ln a computing machine, the combination with a totalizer and its actuator the one traveling not clear, a

of the last digit of the tlrst number to be registered in the totalizer after a clearance thereof.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with a totalizer and an actuator therefor the one traveling relative to the other, of a device in said totalizer which occupies one position when the totalizer is clear and another position when the totalizer is not clear, a signal controlled by said device and by such relative travel and acting on the first excursion 'only following a change in the state of the totalizer from clear to not clear, and another signal controlled by said device and by such relative travel and acting1 on the first excursion only following a change in the state of said totalizer from not clear to clear.

5. In a. computing machine, the combination with a totalizer, an actuator for registering in said totaliaer the digits of a number one digit after another, and means for printing said digits, of means acting automatically to print a distinctive sign immediately following the printing and registering of the last digit of the first number to be registered in said totalizer following clearance thereof. v

6. In a computing machine, the combination with a totalizer, ani actuator for registering in said totalizer the digits of a number one digit after another, and means for printing said digits, of means acting automatically to print a distinctive sign immediately following'the printing and registering of the last digit of the first number to be registered in said totalizer following clearance thereof, and means acting automatically to print another distinctive sign immediately following the printing and'registering of the last digit of a number the registering of which clears the totalizer.

'1. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with typewriting mechanism including type-bars, register mechanism, and means for operating said register mechanism by the typewriter numeral keys one digit at a time, of a type-bar adapted to print a designating character and means acting automatically to operate said type-bar following the printing and registering of the last digit of the first number to be registered in said mechanism following a clearance thereof.

8. In a computing and recording machine, the combination with a totalizer, an actuator therefor, and a device in said totalizer which occupies one position when the totalizer is clear and another positionwhen the totalizer is not clear, of

mechanism controlled by said device and actuated after the registration of the last digit of a number, said mechanism having two positions to one of, which it is moved after said device has been moved to its clear position and to the other of which said mechanism is moved after said device has moved to its non-clear position; a characteristic signal 'operated by the first said motion ofv said mechanism and another characteristic signaloperated by the second said motion of said mechanism.

9. In a computing and recording machine, the combination with a totalizer, an actuator therefor, and a device in said totalizer which occupies one position when the totalizer is clear and another position when the totalizer is not clear, of mechanism controlled by said device and actuated after the registration of the last digit of a number, said mechanism having two positions to one of which it is moved after said device has been moved to its clear position and to the other of which said mechanism is moved after said device has moved to its non-clear position; a type caused by the first said motion of said mechanism to print a characteristic sign and another type caused by the second motion of said mechanism to print another characteristic sign.

10. The combination with a register and means for actuating it to register numbers and to clear said register, of a feeler device having one position when said register is clear and another position when said register is not clear, a shiftable device having two positions, said feeler device and said shiftable device having relative motion, said feeler device by reason of such relative motion shifting said shiftable device to one position when the register is clear and to the other position when said register is not clear, and said shiftable device. remaining in said other position during subsequent such relative motions as long as the register is not clear.

11. The combination with a register and means for actuating it to register numbers and to clear said register, of a feeler device having one position when said register is clear and another position when said register is not clear, a shiftable device having two positions, and having two parts for contact with said feeler device, said feeler device and said shiitable device having relative motion in two paths one corresponding to each of said contact parts, said feeler device by such relative motion when the register is cleared displacing one of said contact parts out of one of said paths and placing the other of said contact parts into the other of said paths, and said feeler device by such relative motion when the first number is registered displacing the said other contact part from said other path and replacing the first contact part in the first path.

' 12. The combination with a register, and means for actuating it, of a feeler device having one position when the register is clear and another position when the register is not clear, two contact parts, said contact parts and said feeler device having relative motion upon an actuation of said register such that said feeler device when in its clear position will come within the range of one of said contact devices and when in its not clear position will come within range of the other said contact device, a signal device automatically operated by the rst contact only of said feeler with one of said contact devices, and another signal device operated by the first contact only of said feeler device with the other said contact device.

13. The combination with a register having a feeler device to detect ,clear and non clear states and means for actuating said bell cranks having parallel arms connected by a link and having oppositely extending arms, means for producing a relative motion between said feeler device and said linkage, said feeler device acting on and shifting one or the other of said oppositely extending arms depending upon its position at the time, and means whereby a characteristic signal is operated upon eachfshifting of said linkage.

14. The combination with a register having a feeler device to detect clear and non clear states of said register, and means for actuating said register, of a linkage comprising two bell cranks having parallel arms connected by a link and having oppositely extending arms, means for producing relative motion rbetween said feeler wdevice and said linkage, said feeler device acting on and shifting one or the other of said oppositely extending arms depending upon its position at the time, and means whereby the shifting of one of said arms causes one sign to be printed and whereby the shifting of the other arm causes another sign to be printed.

15. The combination with a jumping totalizer having a clearance feeler device including a iinger (4l), mechanism including two contact devices one in the path of the jump-back of said iinger when the latter shows clear and the other in the path oi said nger when said nger shows not clear, means so connecting said two contact devices with each other'that when one of them is displaced by said nger it moves the other contact device into position to be actuated by said nger, and vsignal mechanism operate-d by the shifting of said contact devices.

16. The combination with printing mechanism, computing mechanism including a register, 'and a source of power, of means for detecting clear and not clear states of said register, and means whereby said detecting means causes said source of power to actuate said printing mechanism to print one characteristic sign at a change in the state of the register from clear to not clear and to print another characteristic sign at each change in the state of the register from not clear to clear.

17. 'Ihe combination with printing mechanism including two special types, computing mechanism, and means for detecting clear and nonclear states of said computing mechanism, of a rotating power drum, a rocking lever, means whereby the act of rocking said lever in one direction operatively connects one of said special types to said drum and the act of rocking said lever in the opposite direction operatively connects the other special type to said drum, and means whereby said detecting means causes rocking of said lever.

18. The combination with a jumping totalizer, a stop adjustable to regulate the extent of the jump-back of said totalizer and feeler mechal ,nism in said jumping totalizer, of mechanism operated by said feeler mechanism on the jumpback' of the totalizer, said mechanism having parts thereof mounted for bodily adjustment relative to other parts thereof to conform to the adjustment of said stop.

19. The combination with a traveling register, a feeler to detect the state of said register and a cam adjacent to the path of travel of said register, of two arms one controlled by said feeler and the other` a finger for operating said cam and said arms yieldingly connected so that in case the state of said register should be changed when said finger is in front of said cam the feeler can move notwithstanding said nger is arrested by said cam.

20. In a typewriting calculating machine, a counting mechanism comprising a set of counting elements for a plurality of orders, mechanism for printing numerals and shifting said counting elements accordingly one order at a time, means for printing a distinctive sign, a member having a continued forward movement during the successive steps of normal operation of the machine, automatic operating means for said distinctive sign printing means controlled by saidl member so as to be started automatically at a predetermined point in the movement of said member,

and a` supplementary control for said operating means to render the same dependent upon the condition of said counting mechanism.

21. In a machine of the class described, a counting mechanism, a traveling paper carriage, a clear sign printing mechanism, operating means for said cleary sign printing mechanism including a source of power, means controlled by movement of said carriage for starting said operating means, and means rendering the operation of said printing mechanism dependent upon the condition of said counting mechanism.

22. In a machine of the class' described, a counting mechanism, a member having a continued forward movement during the successive steps of the normal operation of said machine, said member being adjustable'along its line of motion, printing members including a clear sign printing mechanism, automatic operating means for said printing mechanism, means controlled by said first-named member for starting said operating means at a predetermined point in the forward movement of said member, and a.

'supplementary control rendering the operation of said last-mentioned means dependent upon the condition of said counting mechanism.

23. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, typewriting mechanism including clear sign printing mechanism and a step-by-stepmoving carriage, a member secured to said carriage and adjustable longitudinally thereof, operating means for said clear sign printing mechanlsm automatically set into operation by said member at a stage in the operation of the machine determined by the adjustment of said member, and means for rendering the operation of said clear sign printing mechanism dependent upon the condition of said counting mechanism.

24. A combined typewriting and computing machine having a traveling carriage, a totalizer, and mechanism for printing numbers one digit at a time and entering s aid numbers in said totalizer, the combination which includes a rotating power member, a type for printing a distinctive sign, means for operating said type including a device capable of engaging said power member to be operated thereby once only, means controlled by movement of said carriage for bringing said device into engagement with said power member, and means rendering the operation of said engaging means dependent on the condition of said totalizer.

25. In a combined typewriting and computing machine having numeral printing types and a paper carrier, a carriage imparting relative movement to said types and paper carrier, means to actuate said types and carriage to print the `digits of a number one at a time in each of a plurality of columns and a cross-footing totalizer in whichthe printed numbers are entered; the combination which includes a special type for printing a distinctive sign, a device adjustable with respect to the travel of said carriage, means for sensing the condition of said totalizer, and means brought into operation by said device at a stage in the operation of the machine determined by the adjustment of said device and acting automatically under the control of said sensing means to print said sign.

ROBERT H. STRO'IHER.

Cil 

